O.J. Simpson testifies in bid to win freedom

More than four years after the world last heard from O.J. Simpson in court, one of the nation’s most famous prisoners spoke again yesterday in a bid to win freedom from a sentence that could keep him behind bars until he dies.

Simpson took the stand in Las Vegas to testify about his legal representation in the case involving a strange hotel room confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers. He appeared more animated than he had in the first two days of the hearing.

“He’s been wanting to tell his story. He’s excited about telling his story,” said Simpson attorney Ozzie Fumo.

When he went to trial in 2008 on charges of armed robbery and kidnapping, Simpson did not testify – a decision that one of his lawyers said was pushed upon him by another attorney he trusted so completely that he took his bad advice.

“It’s going to be a long day,” said his co-counsel, Patricia Palm. “He’s going to have to testify to every point in the petition. But they can’t do a little mini-retrial.”

Simpson is testifying midway through a five-day evidentiary hearing. He’s serving nine to 33 years in prison for his conviction on armed robbery, kidnapping and other charges in a 2007 confrontation.